Hooker Andre-Hugo Venter is excited to bring up a significant milestone when the DHL Stormers face the Glasgow Warriors at Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch on Saturday.
With his family travelling down from Bloemfontein for the occasion, Venter’s 50th appearance for the DHL Stormers will be a memorable one for the 23-year-old.
Venter played a key role as the DHL Stormers charged towards the inaugural Vodacom URC title in 2021-22, and is relishing establishing his career with the team.
“It’s special. I am really looking forward to it. The family is coming down from Bloemfontein to watch. It’s going to be a very special occasion,” said Venter.
“I am very happy at the Stormers, and this is where I want to continue my rugby career.”
This achievement marks another step in what has been an impressive journey for the former Junior Springbok and Grey College old boy.
Having joined the Stormers in late 2020, Venter quickly found his feet and made his debut in the 2021 Rainbow Cup, against the Vodacom Bulls at Loftus Versfeld.
“In 2019 I was in matric. In 2020, I went to Stellenbosch University to study,” he recalled. “I got the opportunity to play in the Varsity Cup before the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I then got a call from Forwards Coach Rito Hlungwani, and he invited me to come and train with the Stormers. I started playing for the DHL Western Province U21 side.
“In my first season, I was fortunate enough to get some good game time, and it has built on from there.”
WATCH: Behind the scenes with Stormers
Venter’s rapid rise through the Stormers and WP ranks echoes that of legendary front-row powerhouses Steven Kitshoff, Frans Malherbe, and Brok Harris.
Venter, who made his Springbok debut against Portugal in July, speaks with humility about emulating their longevity at the Stormers: “I’d love to follow in their footsteps, if I’m lucky enough. They are three of the most-capped players here, and they are all props.
“If everything works according to plan, hopefully I can stay here for a little while longer.”
Venter acknowledges that while getting to 50 caps for the Stormers is a significant accomplishment , he has many ambitions still to chase.
“There is still so much that one dreams of. I know we won the URC three years ago, but that’s something you strive towards every year,” he said.
“There are so many boxes that still need to be ticked. Fifty caps is a lot of games… But this is just the start of it.”
Looking ahead to this week’s clash against Glasgow, Venter emphasises the importance of the match for the Stormers’ URC campaign: “It’s a massive game for us. We don’t need any extra motivation going into this game. This occasion, playing in front of the fans, is enough on its own.”
Playing at Danie Craven Stadium also holds extra significance for Venter, other than running out at the iconic ground for the Maties, having lived in Stellenbosch for three years.
“For me, Stellenbosch was my first home out of Bloemfontein. It’s a very special place. I’m still studying at the university. So it’s always a special place to return to and play there.”
Photo: Shaun Roy/Gallo Images
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